Diversity in Marketing

Pam Kermisch is the Chief Customer Growth Officer for Polaris Inc. She joined Polaris in 2015 and is responsible for helping to deepen Polaris’ relationships with its existing valued customers, while also expanding brand awareness and connecting with new consumer bases. Polaris aims to increase its customer base by nearly 50% in the next ten years and Pam’s role will help enable that through enhancing the company’s knowledge of its customers, connecting with them in relevant ways and educating a changing customer base on the opportunities and outdoor experiences powersports offer.

Previously Pam supported Polaris’ off-road business leading global brand and product marketing.  Prior to this, Pam supported Polaris’ on road business leading efforts across Indian Motorcycle and Slingshot. In both roles, Pam was responsible for building a pipeline of potential customers, converting riders from shop to buy and continuing to build the brand experience with owners. Leading the team’s owner programs, lead management and customer cultivation, Pam was committed to proving that brand building and driving sales are not mutually exclusive.

Prior to Polaris, Pam spent nearly 19 years with General Mills, leading integrated marketing for beloved brands such as Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Betty Crocker and Yoplait. She led key strategic efforts such as Box Tops for Education, expansion in multicultural marketing and partnerships and licensing. She believes everything starts with a deep understanding of consumers and brands.  Pam has led brand activation through direct/CRM, advertising, promotion marketing, PR/influencer, digital/social, experiential and shopper marketing.

With 20+ years of experience across ad agency, retail, CPG, and OTC/RX brands, Chris’ purpose is to drive best-in-class outcomes by envisioning future-proof capabilities while nurturing talent, teams, and diversity of thought. He is a member of the ANA Global CMO Growth Council, Google Client Advisory Board, Montclair State University Feliciano School of Business, and Advertising Education Foundation. As a leadership and DEI champion, he has been involved in the IRG100 Leadership Program, has 100% of competencies above Sanofi benchmarks in Play to Win 360 Leadership assessment, and the highest (96%) benchmark in the U.S. CHC

Sherman Wright is the co-founder and managing partner of TEN35 (www.ten35.com), a creative company specializing in transforming brands through culture. An entrepreneur whose work and thought leadership has created award-winning campaigns for global brands including Pepsi, Nike, Disney, Microsoft, Facebook, Polaris, JP Morgan Chase and Stellantis. Sherman’s accomplishments have been recognized by The New York Times, Inc., Advertising Age, Adweek, Black Enterprise, The Chicago Tribune and Crain’s Chicago Business to name a few.